Form Organization to Establish Legionnaire Colonies in Palestine

The creation of a national organization to carry out the project of establishing legionnaires’ colonies in Palestine was the result of a two-day conference held at the Irving Plaza Hall. New York, under the auspices of the American Palestine Jewish Legion. The new organization is to be known as the Hagdud Ha’Ivri League.

Demands for unrestricted immigration to Palestine and the allotment of Crown lands were voiced in resolutions adopted by the conference which was attended by 52 delegates from cities in the United States and Canada. That requirement of immigration certificates be waived in the case of former legionnaires entering Palestine was asked in one of the resolutions adopted.

A request that the Jewish Agency include in its budget a provision for the establishment of one Legionnaire colony annually was formulated. The first colony of Legionnaires, composed of one hundred men, will be established by the American Palestine Jewish Legion in 1930, it was decided.

Immediate action to the end that Jewish veterans of Palestine service, who were demobilized, be declared reserve members of the British army, whose services should be utilized by the Palestine administration in case of trouble, was determined upon. The service rendered by the Jewish self-defense in Palestine during the recent outbreaks, was lauded. The establishment of a non-partisan council of sympathizers to cooperate with the Legion in seeking to establish colonies in Palestine, was also decided upon.

Among those who addressed the sessions of the convention were: Judge Gustave Hartman, Dr. S. Margoshes, Nathan D. Perlman, Grand Master Independent Order Brith Abraham: Meyer Brown, who spoke on behalf of Jewish National Arbeiter Verband and the Poale Zion; Isaac Brown, and Mr. Epstein on behalf of the League of Zionist Revisionists. Elias Ginsburg presided.

Officers of the new organization are: President, Elias Ginsburg; Vice-presidents, Samuel Friedlander of Orange N. J., for eastern states; Nathan Zarozky of Chicago, Ill., for western states; B. Sindelman of Montreal, Can., for Canada; Treasurer, Joe Ankraut; Secretary, Z. L. Schein; Finan-

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cial Secretary, Max Tadel; and an administrative committee of nine. An Executive Committee of twenty-one was chosen.

The conference confirmed the demands voiced in a petition submitted to Prime Minister MacDonald during his recent visit to America, by the Legionnaires, asking:

“1. Land for ourselves and our comrades demobilized in Palestine in accordance with the Army Ordinance of E. E. F. of 1919.

“2. The reorganization of the Palestine forces responsible for the security of the country, as outlined above.

“3. The reorganization of the Palestine administration so as to eliminate contradictions between official declarations and local acts.

“4. Promulgation of laws tending to aid in the realization of the terms of the Mandate.

“5. Free immigration of Jews into Palestine, and

“6. Solution of the Western Wall problem in a manner favorable to the Jews.”